Royal tour: Security scare as two men seen 'acting suspiciously'

First security scare of the Royal couple's tour of Australia after two men are
questioned by police

One of the men was wearing a mesh bib with pro-Israeli stickers on itPhoto: INFphoto.com

By Gordon Rayner, in the Blue Mountains

9:35AM BST 17 Apr 2014

Two men were stopped and searched after they were seen “acting suspiciously” moments before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived on a visit to Australia’s Blue Mountains.

One of the men was wearing what one witness thought was a bulletproof vest, but which later turned out to be a mesh bib with pro-Israeli stickers on it.

The two men were forced to take off their clothes by police in Winmalee, New South Wales, shortly before the Duke and Duchess arrived there to speak to families affected by the bush fires that destroyed hundreds of homes in October last year.

The Royal couple pose for a photograph at Echo Point with 'The Three Sisters' in the background (Getty Images)

A New South Wales police spokesman confirmed that two men aged 37 and 21 were stopped and searched but neither was arrested.

They were said to have been harassing people in the crowd waiting for the Duke and Duchess.

One of the men was seen approaching a woman waiting at a bus stop and asked to use her mobile phone. Before the incident the men were seen talking on headsets.

The two men were stopped and searched after they were seen 'acting suspiciously' (INFphoto.com)

A spokesman for New South Wales Police said: “At about 12.10pm police stopped and spoke to two men aged 37 and 21 who were allegedly harassing members of the crowd gathered at the corner of Singles Ridge Road and Buena Vista Road, Winmalee.

“They were moved on from the area prior to the motorcade coming past. Neither was arrested or charged.

“They were moved on, they were told to get out of there.”

The incident was the first security scare of the royal couple’s tour of Australia.